Africa: More Nations to Receive Tuberculosis-Fighting Drug

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Janssen Therapeutics December 11 that aims to accelerate progress in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, specifically multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

The intent of the MOU is for Janssen to donate $30 million worth of the drug SIRTURO® (bedaquiline) over a four-year period through USAID’s programs for the treatment of MDR-TB. The drug donation will enable nearly 100 low- and middle-income eligible countries to access the life-saving drug for free under certain conditions, USAID said on its website.

The MOU for this collaboration was signed during a signing ceremony by Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator, and Dr. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer and worldwide chairman, pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, on behalf of Janssen. Janssen Therapeutics is a division of Janssen Products, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

“USAID remains committed to addressing the growing concern around antibiotic resistant bacteria as outlined in President Obama’s Executive Order and supporting introduction and appropriate use of new drugs to fight MDR-TB,” Shah said. “This partnership leverages the expertise of both USAID and Johnson & Johnson in the global TB effort and we hope will serve as a catalyst to spur further innovations in addressing global public health emergencies that demand different solutions. More importantly, this collaboration will bring new hope to MDR-TB patients in need of better treatment options.”